| A | B |
|---|
| common law | law that is based on precedent |
| criminal law | used to prosecute those who violate a state or nation's penal code |
| constitutional law | law that is based on the U.S. constitution |
| civil law | used to settle disputes between individuals or parties |
| administrative law | the rules and regulations that are formulated by executive agencies, departments, and regulatory commissions. |
| exclusive jurisdiction | the authority of a court to hear and try cases |
| concurrent jurisdiction | shared authority of courts to hear and try cases |
| original jurisdiction | the authority of a court to be the first to hear and try a case |
| inferior courts | a lower court |
| district court | the lowest level of the federal court system; court of original jurisdiction for 90% of all court cases |
| Court of Appeals | courts that only hear cases on appeal from lower district courts or from federal agencies |
| Appellate jurisdiction | the authority to review cases from inferior courts |
| circuit | the area of jurisdiction of a federal court of appeals |
| unconstitional | in violation of the Constitution; illegal |
| Judicial review | the power the Supreme Court uses to review federal and state laws in order to decide whether they are Constitutional |
| docket | a schedule of cases to be heard by a court of law |
| writ of certiori | written order that directs an inferior court to send its records on a case to the Supreme Court for review |
| majority opinion | statement written by justices to explain the reasons that they voted for the majority view |
| concurring opinion | written by justices who support the majority decision but for different reasons |
| dissenting opinion | statement written by a judge who disagrees with the majority decision |
| magistrate | an official in a district court who issues court orders and determines whether or not a case should be brought to trial |
| justice of the peace | a judge in a local court who hears minor cases |
| felony | a serious crime such as larceny or murder |
| misdemeanor | a relatively minor crime |
| plaintiff | a person or party who files a lawsuit |
| defendant | a person who is accused of a crime or who is the subject of a lawsuit |
| suit of equity | a special kind of lawsuit that seeks fair treatment in a situation where there is not existing law |
| suit | the formal complaint to the court in a legal action |
| complaint | a formal notice that a lawsuit is being brought against a party |
| injunction | a court order that commands a person or group to stop a certain action |
| contract | a legal agreement between two or more parties |
| penal code | the criminal laws of a state |
| subpoena | a court order requiring a person to appear in court |
| summons | a notice directing someone to appear in court to answer a complaint or charge |
| arraignment | a hearing in which a criminal suspect is charged with a crime and pleads guilty or not guilty |
| writ of habeus corpus | court order that guarantees a criminal suspect the right to appear before a judge in a court of law |
| prosecution | the state's side of the proceedings in a criminal trial |
| ex post facto law | a law that punishes a person for committing an act that was not a crime at the time that it was committed |
| bill of attainder | anything that punishes a criminal suspect without using due process of law |
| due process | procedures that are established by law and guaranteed by the Constitution |
| grand jury | a group of citizens that is given the legal duty to decide whether there is enough evidence to indict a criminal suspect |
| indictment | to formally accuse a person of a crime |
| petit jury | a jury that hears trials |
| bench trial | a trial by a judge |
| testimony | the statements that a witness makes under oath |
| cross examination | the process of questioning a witness at a trial or hearing in order to determine the truthfulness of their statements |
| verdict | the final decision that is reached by a jury |
| plea bargain | an agreement to plead guilty to a crime in exchange for a reduced sentence |
| hung jury | a jury that cannot agree on a verdict |
| acquittal | a vote of not guilty |
| juvenile delinquent | a person who is under the age of legal responsibility (normally under the age of 18) who commits a felony or repeatedly breaks the law |
